Welcome Back UNC Students! Fall semester classes start on Tuesday, August 19 and Carolina students have started moving back to town. Downtown Chapel Hill is bustling with activity as students and their families get ready for the new school year - and we are happy to have them back!

Thursday, August 14 from 6 pm to 8 pm: Featured artist Mary Lamb will be giving a gallery talk about her work that is on exhibit for the TREE: Witness to Life show currently at FRANK. This exhibition examines the multi-dimensional importance of the tree to all living forms on the planet--- from its aesthetic value as an artistic construction to its functional value in supporting and enhancing human life. www.frankisart.com

Music at Franklin Hotel

Friday, August 15 from 8 pm to 11 pm: The Roberts at The Franklin Hotel hosts The Chris Reynolds Trio. A great way to relax and unwind for all - but especially all those parents who have spent the day moving in their students for the new UNC semester. www.franklinhotelnc.com

New Show at LIGHT

Friday, August 15 from 6 pm to 9 pm: LIGHT hosts an opening reception for a new show featuring new work from Katherine Armacost with Peg Gignoux as well as new ceramic and sculptural work from Mark Hewitt, Ibrahim Said, Tom Spleth, Justin Turcotte, and Yun-Dong Nam. LIGHT is located in Greenbridge. www.lightartdesign.com

Saturdays in the Sun

Saturday, August 16 from 5 pm to

8 pm: Join Fitzgerald's Irish Pub for live music on the patio from Brandon Hughes! Play cornhole, enjoy drink specials, and soak up the gorgeous summer sunshine. www.fitzgeraldschapelhill.com

NOW SHOWING:

Carolina Inn Wine Dinner

Thursday, August 21 at 6 pm: The Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill is hosting a Trefethen wine dinner featuring winemaker and winery owner John Trefethen. The event starts with a wine reception and appetizers on the terrace followed by a four-course dinner with wine pairings. Call 919-918-2735 for a reservation. The menu is viewable at www.carolinainn.com.

Linda's Trivia & Open Mic

Opened in 1976, Linda's serves great American bar and grill food, along with a fantastic selection of wine, beer, and liquor. Stop by the Downbar for trivia on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8 pm to 10:30 pm; and Thursdays for open mic from 8 pm to 11 pm. And of course...open early for all UNC Men's basketball and football games. www.lindas-bar.com

Specials at Vespa

-- Early Bird Special every day from 4 pm until 6 pm; enjoy an appetizer, entree, and dessert for just $19.50.-- Wednesday - Half Priced Entrees-- Sunday - Half Priced Wine; including house wines by the glass and bottle, and a large selection of wines from around the world.-- Get a stamped "lunch card" to bring in whenever you eat from 12 - 3. Bring it back for 3 lunches, and the 4th stamp means you get a FREE LUNCH! www.vespanc.com

Live Music at R&R Grill

Starting on Wednesday, August 20 - and every Wednesday until October 8 - come to R&R Grill and dance! Enjoy great, local, live beach and motown music. All shows are from 6 pm to 9 pm, with a $5 cover. Starting on Wednesday, August 20 with local favorites Liquid Pleasure! www.rnrgrill.com

FREE Movie Under the Stars: Raising Arizona

Enjoy a free screening of a modern classic on Friday, August 15 on the roof of Wallace Parking Deck in beautiful downtown Chapel Hill. Raising Arizona (1987 - PG13) will be shown at sunset (approx. 8:30 pm) on Wallace Plaza at 150 East Rosemary Street. Bring lawn chairs, blankets, and a picnic dinner from a downtown restaurant. FREE popcorn too!More Info

NOW OPEN: H2Only Cleaners

H2Only Cleaners is proud to be the Triangle's only 100% Wet Cleaner! Wet Cleaning replaces ordinary dry cleaning by using water as a solvent instead of toxic chemicals. It is 100% non-toxic. There are no carcinogenic fumes produced by any garment cleaned by H2Only Cleaners. Located in Greenbridge, on Graham Street. Open 7-7 Monday-Friday, 9-4 Saturday. Call (919) 619-8787 or www.h20nlycleaners.com

The Painted Bird, the 15th annual puppet pageant for all ages in Forest Theatre, runs from August 8 to September 7. With both matinee and night shows; every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. $12, $8 kids, suggested donation at the door. www.paperhand.org

Fridays on the Front Porch at the Inn

Every Friday from 5 pm to 8 pm: The Carolina Inn hosts the popular end-of-the-work week celebration. Offering live music, a picnic menu with beer, wine and drink specials, and plenty of comfortable seating under the shady oaks and magnolias on the Inn's front lawn. There's no cover charge or reservations. www.carolinainn.com

Charity Night at Carolina Brewery

Sunday, August 17 from 5 pm to 9 pm: Carolina Brewery hosts Nourish International for a charity night! Carolina Brewery will donate 10% of their profits generated at the charity night in support of the mission at Nourish International; which is dedicated to making a lasting impact on poverty. www.carolinabrewery.com /

The Downtown Partnership and the Office of New Student & Carolina Parent Programs at UNC have partnered to host The Feel of Franklin Street during the Week of Welcome (WOW), August 15 to August 24, 2014. WOW is an annual celebration that takes place at the beginning of the fall semester for new students and their families as they arrive to UNC and Chapel Hill. The Feel of Franklin Street is a week-long promotion that brings students and families into participating downtown businesses to receive free or exceptionally reduced priced menu items and merchandise.

Chapel Hill/Carrboro Food Tour

Go behind the scenes of Chapel Hill and Carrboro restaurants to experience where farm-to-table cuisine comes to life. Sample innovative and upscale southern dishes, scratch-made desserts, organic wine, local beer, and more. Offering two tours of Chapel Hill/Carrboro on Saturdays, a Culinary Tour starting at 11 am or a Dinner and Drinks Tour starting at 3 pm. August 16, 23, 30. www.tastecarolina.com

West End Run Club Welcomes All

Starts Tuesday, August 19 at 6 pm: DSI Comedy and Franklin Street Yoga Center have teamed up to create the West End Run Club, offering an excellent opportunity to meet local runners and take a leisurely run at a more conversational pace for free. All abilities are welcome, and runners meet at DSI Comedy. Regular runs take place along Franklin St, UNC Campus and Cameron Ave. Runs range from 1.5 miles to 5 miles and anywhere in between. www.franklinstyoga.com / www.dsicomedy.com

The Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership works to bring together the resources of the Town, University and downtown community to maintain, enhance and promote downtown as the social, cultural, and spiritual center of Chapel Hill through economic development. Contact Meg McGurk at 919-967-9440 or meg@downtownchapelhill.com.

The Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership's mission is to bring the resources of the Town, University and downtown community together to maintain, enhance and promote downtown as the social, cultural, and spiritual center of Chapel Hill through economic development. Learn more here.